News & Events
Governments throw obstacles at restorative justice
November 17, 2009
It is a shame that valuable programs and good people are placed in a position of uncertainty as federal and provincial governments toy with everyone involved.
A good example of this is Onashowewin Inc., the restorative justice program that SCO is sponsoring in Winnipeg. Onashewewin's benefits are considerable and for years people have been putting an enormous amount of energy into the organization's services, which are designed to meet the need of First Nations people living in Winnipeg.
In recent months both provincial and federal governments have worked to discontinue this valuable service for our people. The discontinuation of service is masked by tactics used by government.
In this instance, the conditions are so unreasonable that no organization could succeed. Tactics include: freezing the flow of funding, constant meddling, micromanagement, and collusion between provincial and federal funders. This leaves Onashowewin hanging by a string and having to exert enormous amounts of energy in defending the program because the program has received more than half of the funds promised.
Onashowewin has existed for seven years and was implemented to provide an alternative to the western-based court processes while using an Aboriginal perspective and Traditional cultural practices. The programs and services of Onashowewin account for social and economical issues faced by offenders while tailoring the retribution plan for their offence.
People entering the programs of Onashowewin are less likely to reoffend while assuming responsibility for their actions. Onashowewin also provides services for the victims of an offence by offering opportunities for healing and the opportunity to address the offender through mediation processes.
At present, the two sponsoring government departments are setting impossible conditions for Onashowewin to succeed.
The current Executive Director has often worked for weeks at a time without collecting her paycheque, so as to stretch dollars to continue advocating for the organization. She stayed on because she believes strongly in the value of the organization's mandate. Rather than quit and let Onashowewin go down the drain, she has stayed on so that the benefits of this fine organization will continue. Had this not happened, Onashowewin would have closed its doors months ago.
In addition, a southern First Nation has lent Onashowewin funds to keep the organization afloat when the government was freezing funds in an attempt to force the closure of the organization. It must be said that to date there has not been any real justification for the actions of government aside from them citing governance issues.
Onashowewin had responded to a recommendation of creating a new board of directors following conditions set by the governments, and when asking for further commitment, the government is still finding further issues, rather than admit that they would rather just see justice through their own eyes.
In reality, the annual funding that each government contributes to Onashowewin would merely cover the cost of four imprisoned Aboriginal people for one year. However, Onashowewin employs 12 individuals, covers all operating costs of the organization and supports hundreds of Aboriginal offenders yearly with the amount received.
Our ownership of Onashowewin goes back about seven years which was developed out of the need to offer alternatives to western-based justice.
Onashewewin provides an alternative to the punishment-based system of justice.
The program, as it exists now, provides First Nations input into a program that serves First Nations people. It should continue and the people working there should be able to concentrate on their purpose and not be distracted by the province.
I hope this issue doesn't force us to issue ultimatums, but believe me, we are looking at retribution. There are options.
Grand Chief Morris J. Swan Shannacappo
Southern Chiefs' Organization